How does automatic meter number matching work for invoices?
When you upload a utility invoice, the system automatically tries to link it to an existing meter by comparing the meter number extracted from the invoice with meter numbers in your building.
How the matching works
The system normalizes both the invoice's extracted meter number and your existing meter numbers before comparing:
- Removes all dashes, spaces, and dots
- Converts to lowercase
- Trims leading and trailing whitespace
Example: Invoice shows meter "707-057-500 012.345" → normalized to "707057500012345". Your meter in the system has number "707057500012345" → match found, invoice is automatically linked.
When to use which meter number format
When creating a meter (Buildings → Meters tab → Add Meter), enter the meter number exactly as it appears on your utility invoices. Common formats:
- Electricity: "707057500012345" (Norwegian meter point ID)
- District heating: "DH-2024-0891"
- Water: "WM12345"
- Gas: "G-456789"
The normalization handles format differences, but the core digits must match.
What happens when there is no match
- The invoice is stored successfully but with meter_id = NULL (unlinked)
- Consumption from unlinked invoices does NOT appear in the Energy dashboard chart
- You see a warning on the invoice: "No meter linked"
- You must manually link it: open the invoice → click "Link to Meter" → select the meter from the dropdown
What happens with multiple meters on one invoice
Some utility invoices list multiple meter points. The OCR extraction captures the primary meter number. If your invoice covers multiple meters, you may need to link it manually to the correct one, or upload separate invoices per meter.
Tip: Create your meters first, using the exact meter numbers from your invoices. Then when you upload invoices, they link automatically. This is the easiest workflow.